I wonder....what does it feel like?

[againes654]

Du'ers, what does it feel like to live in a liberal area, and have others around you that believe mostly the same things you do?
What does it feel like to be able to openly complain to friends and co-workers about the current misadministration?
What does it feel like to see anti-war and anti-bush signs/bumper stickers in your area?

I was just wondering what it felt like. Sometimes I feel like I am trapped in conservative hell.

[TornadoTN]

1. Don't feel bad, there are many of us in the same situation

Although it's getting better, there are still so many misguided conservative and neoconservatives that it is disheartening at times just due to their sheer idiocy and pack mentality.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. I live in one of the most liberal counties in America

it's very nice.

[niyad]

3. I would LOVE to know what that feels like, living in fundieville as I do (home of dobson, et al)

and quite militarized.

thankfully, I live in the more progressive area of this very conservative town, which helps the little bit of sanity I have left after nearly 7 years of our national nightmare.

[SeattleGirl]

4. I love it, especially because I came from white bread America,

where there were more conservatives than liberals.

[RufusEarl]

5. I live in Texas as well,

and i'm happy to point out to fellow Texans that at one point in this country i was in the minority now i'm in the majority. It's great, and i have never had a problem letting people know what i think of this admin!

Peace!

[Wiley50]

6. I Share Your Pain. I Just Wish

that people would take up a collection to help us move.

[lateo]

7. I have no idea

I've lived in conservative hell holes all my life.

[Glorfindel]

8. I feel your pain...I live in darkest Mississippi

People know better than to talk politics or religion around me, but I can't rip off all the bumper stickers or tune out overheard conversations. I keep sane by visiting DU and corresponding with family and friends.

[againes654]

13. Yep I live in a red-neck town in east Texas

All the W stickers are killing me!!!!! Especially when I see them on a 91 Pontiac minivan that is hardly running. I want to scream

[awoke_in_2003]

17. Lots of w stickers here too.

Was coming out of a restaraunt, and a truck parked next to me had the white w on the black background, the one that usually says "The President" in smaller white font underneath. Started feeling foul, but as I got closer, I saw it said "The Worst" under the W. Got a good laugh.

[againes654]

18. LOL

[awoke_in_2003]

19. Another one I hate

is the red, white and blue one that says "The Power of Pride". What the hell does that mean, and what the hell do we have to be proud of? Renditions? torture? illegal spying? Hell, I'm so proud I wish I could expatriate myself to New Zealand.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

9. I live in a "red" pocket of New York.

It amazes me how many people fell for the line, "We're fighting there, so we won't have to fight them here".

[againes654]

12. I hate that line with a passion

I would say it is one of the dumbest quotes to come out of this misadministration, but it isn't.

[cali]

10. I live in Vermont

I know about 5 conservatives, and they're more libertarian than conservative. I love the grassroots things that liberals have been able to accomplish here.

[againes654]

21. I couldn't get a grassroots movement here

if I had 10 lawnmowers.

[cali]

11. self delete

[nightrider767]

14. No one ever said it was going to be an easy job,

Being a free thinker, staying abreast of the issues and developing your own unique positions, even when your ideas are not approved by the local mainstream thinking is not an easy job by any measure.

But those are the people we all admire in the end because they display moral courage. Even now I'm sure there are plenty of local-yokals who are beginning to realize, even if they won't admit it, that you've been right about so many things.....

You're a seed ma man. And perhaps one day your influence will grow. :toast:

Keep up the fight.

[againes654]

16. Great post

Thanks for that reminder. I need those every once in a while.

A toast back at ya! :toast:

[damntexdem]

15. Sorry, but as someone who lives in North Texas, I can't be much help to you on that.

Sure, the people I interact with most are closer to reasonable; and I do see good bumper stickers when I go to MY church or on campus. But the politics overall population of the area are dismal.

[Rockholm]

20. It feels wonderful.

[Control-Z]

22. I have no idea.

I'm in The OC. Ultra conservative. But people don't speak much (politically) here. It's eerily quiet in fact. Kind of "Stepfordy". Perhaps it's a code of silence left over from the good old days when secret Birch Society meetings were common place here.

In my heart, though, I believe we have a lot of closet liberals in the community.

[marions ghost]

23. It feels like an oasis

in a strange land.

I try not to let my liberal friends get too smug. They want to think they're "safe" and life is good, y'know. The reign of the Bushites should tell them that's a myopic fallacy. The less politically aware just want to pretend the bad stuff is all "over there" (and not over here in our oasis). I understand the urge to think that way, but it's not the truth.

Things may seem better in one of these liberal containment areas on a daily basis but it's somewhat of an illusion. Local politics may be surprisingly conservative, even if Anti-Bush War signs stay up for months. There is corruption and sleeze all over the place. Real progress on the issues most liberals care about is slow, often blocked. Check out how even the university communities (of say Ohio) in 2004 saw election manipulation and dirty tricks. Just try to show any art in a public place that comments on politics --anywhere--even where I am it's rejected. Oh and, environmental issues?-- just try to do anything about water or air pollution locally. The whole country is incredibly backward on that. All kinds of lip service & concern about the environment, but no real big picture plans to do anything (and lots of opportunists taking advantage of that). You know, actual scientists might have to get involved if you really want to take care of the environment.

I'm sure you would say it's an improvement where I am, but trust me, the grass is not so much greener as people would like to think. Yes we get to complain to each other and gripe to neighbors about politics. But do I see real substantial action? Not unless the business sector is behind it. And generally they are not thinking like liberals.

I wouldn't pull up stakes in search of some liberal heaven. Make it happen where you are.

[htuttle]

24. It feels great!

We own this town! (Madison, WI)